Consultation period for Employment Permits changes now open

Ireland

12/17/2019

https://news.balglobal.com/

What is the immigration news? The Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation has opened a public consultation period on a set of proposed changes to Ireland’s Employment Permits system.
The proposals include introducing seasonal employment permits, revising the labor market test, streamlining Trusted Partner and renewal applications and simplifying salary requirements. Employers have until Jan. 17, 2020 to provide submissions in response to the consultation.
• Implementation: Between now and Jan. 17, 2020.
• Permits affected: Employment Permits.
• Who is affected: Irish companies hiring and recruiting foreign employees.
• Impact on business: The proposals are designed to address inefficiencies in the Employment Permits system and make it more accessible for certain employees to obtain work authorization.
Additional information: Officials announced the proposed changes in November. Under the proposed legislation, Ireland would do the following:
• Introduce seasonal work permits.
• Revise the labor market needs test to make it more “relevant and efficient.”
• Create a scheme to address “exceptional circumstances” where an employment permit would be granted even if the criteria for granting a General Employment Permit could not be met.
• Streamline the processes for Trusted Partner and renewal applications.
• Provide fee refunds for employment permits that are not used or approved.
• Simplify salary requirements.
• Waive a rule that says there must be at least one EEA employee for every non-EEA employee (the “50:50 rule”) if the employment permit holder is the company’s only employee.
Employers interested in providing a submission should (1) send an email to empu@dbei.gov.ie, using the subject line Consultation on General Scheme of an Employment Permits (Consolidation and Amendment) Bill; or (2) send their response by post to Economic Migration Policy Unit, Department of Business, Enterprise and Innovation, Earlsfort Centre, Lower Hatch Street, Dublin 2. More information is available on this website.BAL Analysis: The public consultation period offers employers an opportunity to provide their feedback on the proposed changes to the employment permits system. Employers interested in providing a submission are encouraged to work with their immigration provider in doing so.